BJP to recast Bengal unit, invitee members including Bappi Lahiri to be dropped

Bappi Lahiri, the man known for his music lyrics, however, has no regrets. The veteran musician told ET that he was too tied up with his musical career.

KOLKATA: The man who penned the iconic ‘Tamma Tamma’ number and also wrote down quite a few songs for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh back in 2014, may now be dropped from the party.

Bappi Lahiri, the man known for his music lyrics, however, has no regrets. With some of his international creations being nominated for the Oscar in 2016, the veteran musician told ET that he was too tied up with his musical career.

“I am too tied up to be active in politics now. I joined BJP for Modiji and Rajnathji. I have my utmost respect for them. But I have no time to invest in politics. Two of my films, including ‘Lion’, had got Oscar nomination. I have some international projects. And one can see that my numbers, ranging from ‘Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost’ in 1974 to ‘Tamma Tamma’ in 2017 are ruling the charts. So, how can people expect me to participate in active politics,” Bappi Lahiri told ET over phone.

Moreover, Bappi Lahiri harbours no grudge. “It is not possible for me to visit Sreerampore and work there. I am not saying that I have quit politics. But, now politics is not my priority. I will see and think about it when I will have some free time. I am in cordial terms with Modiji and I know there will be no issue,” he added.

Incidentally, the flamboyant music director now might not be part of Bengal’s BJP unit. He had been an invitee member ever since he fought the Lok Sabha election in 2014 on a BJP ticket from Serampore constituency. The party secured around 17% votes in the election.

“We have a long list of invitee members. Some of them include celebrities like Bappi Lahiri who fought the election on a BJP ticket. But now they are not even remotely connected to the party. There are some bureaucrats who joined the party in 2014 but never participated in the party functioning,” said Dilip Ghosh, BJP’s Bengal president.

Ghosh added that the party leaders have already drawn up a list of some invitee members who might be dropped following the state committee meeting on April 8.

“Our national general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya be here on April 8 and preside over the meeting. The final call will be taken at this meeting,” he added.

According to party sources, following the resolution passed by the RSS expressing grave concern over the violence in West Bengal, the BJP started restructuring its organisational set up to get a stronger hold in the state.

'Focus Bengal’ seems to be the call for the BJP now as the party prepares to chalk out its strategy for the state. Ahead of the national executive committee meeting of the BJP, the state unit has one important task in hand. It needs to get rid of some ‘liabilities’ before it presents its case before the national executive committee meeting, scheduled to be held on April 15 in Bhubaneswar, said a senior leader of the party pleading anonymity.